On March 21 at the Clef Club, jazz luminaries will unite for a benefit concert for Philadelphia saxophonist and composer Odean Pope. A vital fixture of Philadelphia’s jazz community since the 1960s, this concert will raise funds for Pope, who has struggled with Bipolar Disorder for 30 years.

“I am extremely grateful for all the support,” said Odean Pope. “I've been struggling with Bipolar Disorder for many years and think I finally have it under control. I have finally realized it can be helped like any other illness. For those of you who feel ashamed and may be part of this arena - there is help for you too.”

Born in South Carolina, Pope relocated to Philadelphia 10 years later and began his music career performing with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown, frequently at Philadelphia’s Uptown Theater. In the 1960s, Pope performed with Jimmy McGriff and Max Roach, building a strong relationship with the latter that led to decades of international touring and recording. In the late-1970s, Pope formed Catalyst, a funk-infused jazz quartet with Philadelphia-based musicians Eddie Green, Sherman Ferguson, and Al Johnson. While continuing as a soloist with Roach, in the early-1980s Pope began working more as a band leader, most notably with Odean Pope Saxophone Choir and Odean Pope Trio. A pioneering educator and mentor who has worked with the Philadelphia Model Cities program and the Settlement Music School, Pope continues to compose and perform music at the intersections of hard-bop, swing, and free jazz, steadily seeking new musical possibilities and directions. About his most recent album, Odean’s List, All About Jazz’s Troy Collins wrote that it “is a compelling reminder of Pope’s relevance as a composer and improviser, one whose talent deserves greater recognition.”

Ars Nova Workshop is a Philadelphia nonprofit jazz and experimental music presenting organization. ANW informs, inspires, and challenges listeners to elevate the role of jazz, improvisation, and experimental music in contemporary culture. ANW events provide a forum for discourse, emergent trends in contemporary music, and unique forms of cultural exchange, while nurturing a diverse community for innovative music.